24/01/2008 - D-2 before the start of the season: Rolex 24 at Daytona

Krohn Racing comes to Daytona this week ready to do battle in the Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance race. Sixty-seven cars, including 25 Daytona Prototype and 42 GT cars, have entered the 47th annual running of the historic enduro classic at the Daytona International Speedway, January 26-27, 2008.

Krohn's two-car team features the No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley of team owner/driver Tracy W. Krohn with new teammate and veteran endurance sports car driver Eric van de Poele. Corvette GT1 champion Oliver Gavin will serve as third driver for the Rolex 24. Krohn Racing regular Nic Jönsson will drive the No. 76 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley. Paired with Jönsson for the season is new co-driver and former Formula One hotshoe Ricardo Zonta. Briton Darren Turner will serve as the third driver for the Daytona twice-around-the-clock endurance race. This is Krohn Racing's third full season in the Daytona Prototype class in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

Eric van de Poele, driver, No. 75 Krohn Racing Pontiac Riley:You are quite an expert in endurance racing and probably have competed in more endurance races alone that most teams have in combining four drivers. What draws you to endurance racing?

I have to say the first thing is the team effort. Why I say that is when you cross the finish line if you are first or if you are last, the emotion is very big. It is a big effort for many, many people. It is also a lot of work for many weeks to prepare the car to be ready for a long distance race like a 24-hour. When you do a championship with a sprint race distance, you do the race and you do your best. It's easy to forget about the result and to go on and think about the next one. The 24 Hours is very different because of all the spirit and concentration you need, as well as patience. At the end you get the results or you don't for different reasons. At least if you cross the line at the finish, it is always a big emotion for everybody. This is fantastic!

How difficult will it be to jump in at a big race like the Rolex 24 At Daytona with a new team?

It's not a big deal. It's very exciting. I don't have to say it's new for me because I know the race. I did this race eight times already. We also did a pre-test with the team and we got to know everybody and get involved. It's just for the start of the season every year; it is the most important race of your career. You are looking forward to it. You weigh that and you try to do your best from the first minute to the last one. Of course everybody makes mistakes, but we try to make the least possible and to be 100% of the potential. It's very exciting to be with new faces and to be with a new team. I last drove in this race in 2003. They have since built new garages and many things that help a lot.

The 46th Annual Rolex 24 At Daytona will be televised on both Fox Sports and SPEED for a total of over 17 broadcast hours. The initial broadcast will include the race start and will be aired on FOX Sports from 1:00-2:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 26th. The broadcast will then move to SPEED TV from 2:30 10:30 p.m. The final segment will run from 6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 27th and include the race finish, victory circle and post-race interviews. For more information, please see www.grand-am.com and www.krohnracing.net.